Introduction to Classical Grammar

Description

Designed for students with standard English grammar skills and no prior experience of Greek and Latin; this course introduces language learning with a focus on grammatical terminology, concepts and exercises. The course presents basic Greek and Latin grammar explained alongside the equivalent in English grammar. At the conclusion of the course, students will have refined their English grammar skills and received a basic introduction to the two Classical languages.

Availability

Callaghan

Semester 1 - 2015

Learning Outcomes

1. Acquire the fundamentals of traditional English grammar.

2. Acquire a familiarity with the grammar of Greek and Latin, where meaning is derived from stem modification rather than word order.

4. Strengthen an understanding of grammatical structures for modern European languages (such as French or German).

Content

The first few weeks of the course will introduce students to basic grammar in conjunction with information on the Ancient Greek alphabet as well as Greek and Latin pronunciation.
This will be followed by key grammatical terminology, concepts and rules introduced on a weekly basis: each component will be explained using English language and then the corresponding information will be taught in the contexts of Greek and Latin. E.g.: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and pronouns and how these function in the inflected language systems of Greek and Latin. Such information will be reinforced and revised with weekly take-home exercises that involve students acquainting themselves with a limited, manageable vocabulary from the two languages.
The last weeks of the course will involve more complex information such as simple constructions in Greek and Latin. Throughout this last segment, students will receive more instruction in the translation of basic Greek and Latin passages.

Requisite

This course has similarities to GREK1010 and LATN1010. If you have successfully completed either of these courses you cannot enrol in this course.